In a series of single releases, Jeremy Gorman has been on quite a roll and getting his honest and heartfelt Americana folk-rock out into the world.
Among one of his latest works is a ingle dubbed "Brave Enough To Be" which showcases the artists knack for writing addictive hooks both vocally and musically.
The songs guitar driven classic rock style oozes with heart and soul and the guitars wail and sway as you get engulfed by the songs almost anthemic and uplifting cinematic vibe.
The guitar work on this track in particular really is outstanding as they keep you afloat with the songs feel as lines ambient lines swim around the atmosphere.
The single is absolutely lush and you find yourself humming all sorts of licks and choruses in your hear long after the song has ended.
Gorman knows how to write songs that can really just wash you away with the aesthetic and sound of everything.
It feels warm and comfortable, alive and breathing, and even calming at times.
With such a wonderfully colorful and passionate release, we wanted to have a talk with the artist to find out where this song came from, what's coming in the near future, and how it all started for him.
Here's what happened.
RAG: Okay so let's start with "Brave Enough To Be". This track is certainly built from honest and puts out a colorful classic folk rock sound. Where did this song come from?
It was inspired by the poem “The Hill We Climb”, read by the author Amanda Gorman (no relation) at the Biden/Harris inauguration in January this year. I was so moved by her recitation that I immediately sat down and wrote this song. After the events at the Capitol on January 6th, her poem reminds of who we aspire to be as a nation. My song is a response to that, expressing the hope that we will live up to that aspiration.
RAG: I'm hearing some great Americana and singer-songwriter styles on this album. Who are some of your biggest actual musical influences?
I grew up during the age of The Beatles, so they were an early and significant influence, but the songwriters that have had the biggest impact would likely be Joni Mitchell, Mark Knopfler and Elvis Costello, among many others!
RAG: How did all of this begin for you?
I grew up in a house that always had music playing, mostly classical and jazz, and I’ve played various instruments since the age of four. First drums, then piano and guitar. I really can’t remember a time when I was driven to play music! It’s been a passion of mine my whole life.
RAG: How do you write your songs? Is it lyrics first or guitar chords? It's different for everyone. How does it work for you?
Most often it starts with a melody or arrangement of chords that suggest a melody. Sometimes a lyrical phrase or idea will inspire me to write something around it, but usually the music comes first and often falls into place quickly. When it comes to lyrics though, that’s a whole other story. I try to get the initial ideas down and then rewrite a lot!
RAG: Sounds like you're a guitar player first. Is that true?
Yes, I think that’s true. Guitar has always been my main passion and I have been the guitar player in a lot of bands. It has always been a comfortable place for me, where being a singer and songwriter always felt risky. I was never comfortable with the idea of being the “front” of a band or musical project. Now that I have taken the chance to put myself out there, though, I really glad I faced my fears and took that chance!
RAG: What's next for you as an artist?
I am finishing a follow up album to ‘… Another Day’ for release in November. It’s called ‘Unusual Suspects’ and will have a little harder edge. I’m really looking forward to getting it out there and seeing what people think of it!
RAG: Can we expect any music videos coming from you?
Video is a tough one right now as I’m mostly working alone. I hope to do something in the future, possibly a collaboration with a visual artist.
RAG: With things up in the air, do you think you'll be focusing on any live performances?
I have actually been performing quite a bit! When things started opening up back in April, suddenly there were a lot of venues looking for live music, so I’m booked up through the end of the year!
RAG: Has the whole pandemic affected you as an artist? How so?
It certainly changed my musical trajectory. Being in lockdown meant no longer being able to perform live or to collaborate with other musicians, so I turned to working on and completing my first solo album. By the time things began to open up again for live performances, I had collected enough material to start performing as a solo artist and now that’s my main focus.
RAG: You've got a huge 25k plus following on Spotify alone! What sort of advice would you have for up and coming bands out there?
I think the most import thing is to keep at and don’t be discouraged by how long it takes to get any traction. You really have to work at building an audience and there is no single method for doing so. Visibility is key, of course, but with so many independent artists out there these days, it can be daunting to find a way to break through it all. Just keep at it and it will come. The second thing is to try and understand who your audience is. For myself, being an age older than the mainstream, it was easy to think there wouldn’t be much interest in what I’m doing, but over time, and with some research, I found that there was significant audience out there interested in what I was producing!
RAG: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
First and foremost, thanks for listening to and support my music! I had no idea what response I would get when I started and the reaction has been overwhelming! I also want to remind everyone to support independent artists like myself, particularly in your local area. None of us do this for the money, there really isn’t any, we do it because it’s what we’re passionate about and we want to share that with you!